Post by lagransiete » Sun Dec 29, 2013 11:30 am
Post by Perry525 » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:51 pm
Post by lagransiete » Wed Jan 01, 2014 2:05 pm
Perry525 wrote:You write, that it is a brick cavity, wall that
the wall was damp when you moved in.
Have you stood outside in the pouring rain and
watched what happens to the wall?
Have you checked the roof, guttering and any down
pipes for leaks?
Is the wall exposed to strong winds and driving
rain? If it is, the wind may well be forcing the
rain through the wall. The reason we have cavity
walls is that this used to happen a lot with
solid walls,(it still does) the cavity is
supposed to be empty! The government issued
guidance on this years ago! Homes in the west of
the UK, in exposed positions or houses anywhere
ditto, should not have their walls filled! The
filling enables the rain to cross the cavity and
make the inner wall wet. The solution is to remove
the polystyrene balls.
You write, the wall has been painted. Paint isn't
necessarily rain/waterproof. However, Thompson’s
make a transparent/invisible wall paint, that
seals bricks and more importantly the mortar
enabling the water to run off, it is also
breathable.
Are you sure the damp isn't condensation? The
wall would have been cold and wet when you had it
re-plastered. Being cold, all the water vapour in
the room, will automatically condense into the
wall keeping it damp.
Post by Perry525 » Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:48 pm
Post by lagransiete » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:58 pm
Perry525 wrote:I always feel that I cannot trust builders and surveyors to do a good job. I am only satisfied when I have looked myself.
May I suggest that you go up into the loft yourself, armed with a bright light, and take a careful look at the roof. This involves laying on the floor and getting as close as possible to each rafter and joist and looking from both sides, look for water marks.
Note: On one occasion I had an internal wall that was damp, on careful inspection I found there was a handful of fiberglass laying on the loft floor, it had been carefully placed to disguise a roof leak.The rain was running through the fiber glass into the top of the internal wall.
While you are there check where the pipes from the water tanks go, are any near the wet wall?
If you have a long enough ladder get up to the roof and check the tiles, guttering and downpipes.
Once you have cleared the above mentioned items, there only remains the wall as the problem.
You write that you have had new ties fitted and that the wall is (full?) of polystyrene balls.
Before the wall was insulated, the installers were supposed to check the cavity for obstructions and cement bridging the cavity. Did they do that?
Did they confirm it is clear?
At this point, having checked all the above, then its time to waterproof the wall with Thompson's or some similar breathable product.
Running a dehumidifier with a window open is a waste of money. While the air outside is nearly always colder and drier than the air inside your home, it does nevertheless contain water vapour (especially during our recent bad weather) this water vapour is entering your home through the open window and condensing on the cold plate inside the dehumidifier. Close the window and run the dehumidifier or open the window and turn off the dehumidifier.
Mould only grows where there is food and water, what have you got on the wall that the mould is feeding on? It is getting its water from the wall or the air.
The bubbling paint is a sure sign of condensation. Probably the wall is the coldest part of the room.
How did they fit the windows? Did they fit them inside the outer wall opening? Or in the cavity? Did they fit closers in the cavity? Or fill with polystyrene or foam.To prevent cold bridging. It would appear that the inner wall is cold.
I wish you luck with your research.
Post by lagransiete » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:09 pm
Post by welsh brickie » Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:37 pm
Post by lagransiete » Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:33 pm
welsh brickie wrote:for a cheaper option, than trying to renew cavity trays etc try spraying the wall with a clear silicone sealant, that will repel the rain and stop any problems £17.99 in screwfix no nonsense silicone sealant 5Ltr
Post by Perry525 » Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:22 pm
Post by welsh brickie » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:33 am
Post by lagransiete » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:58 am
Perry525 wrote:Lets go back to the beginning.
Did you examine the joists, rafters and tiles in the loft?
Why did you not check the gutter yourself?
The wall was wet before the polystyrene balls were (poured in) how were they installed?
Welsh brickie, agrees a cheaper (much) solution is to paint the wall with Thompson's silicone (or similar) after it has been re pointed. Or even before!
Taking the wall to pieces will cost a fortune.
I wonder if you are being ripped off.
Post by Sihanky1 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 7:36 pm